Veteran Yoruba actor Yinka Quadri has explained why he and other members of the Yoruba film industry are supporting President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, citing his financial assistance to entertainers and contributions to infrastructure development.
Quadri said Tinubu’s relationship with the entertainment industry dated back to his tenure as governor of Lagos State, adding that his support for the president extended beyond personal benefits.
The actor made this known during an interview on the African A-List programme, where he recalled how Tinubu reportedly paid the medical bills of late Nollywood actor Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe, during his illness.
“People do not understand it. It is not about what we want to eat. He has been taking care of those of us in the industry since he was the governor of Lagos,” Quadri said.
He also recalled how Tinubu provided financial assistance following the death of actress Moji Olaiya in Canada in 2017.
According to Quadri, he visited Tinubu’s residence in Bourdillon, Lagos, alongside fellow actors Fathia Balogun, Yomi Fabiyi and others to seek financial assistance to bring Olaiya’s remains back to Nigeria.
He said Tinubu asked about the cost of the arrangements before providing $25,000.
“When Moji Olaiya died, I, Fathia Balogun, Yomi Fabiyi and others were trying to bring her back from abroad. We went to Bourdillon to seek financial support.
“He asked us for the cost and paid it. It was a total of $25,000,” the actor said.
Quadri added that Tinubu had continued to assist practitioners in the entertainment industry whenever they approached him for support.
Beyond his personal experiences, the veteran actor cited infrastructure development in the South-West as another reason for supporting the president’s re-election bid.
He specifically mentioned the Papalanto–Sagamu road and the Sagamu–Ijebu-Ode route, while acknowledging that more work was needed to address the region’s infrastructure challenges.
“I know it is not enough, but I praise him,” Quadri said.
The actor also identified pension payments to retirees and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as other aspects of the Tinubu administration he considered positive.
His comments come amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, as supporters of the president continue to advocate for his re-election.
Yoruba movie stars have previously declared support for Tinubu, with some citing his longstanding relationship with members of the entertainment industry.
In 2022, Quadri joined other prominent actors, including Jide Kosoko, Fausat Balogun, Taiwo Hassan and Femi Adebayo, in backing Tinubu’s presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 general election.
